More than just a game: The links between sporting events and domestic violence

What happens when the tensions of sports do not stay on the field?

Photo by Sherry Chen/The Barnard Bulletin

By Megan Morey 

May 2, 2026

During the first few months of the year, weekend nights are buzzing with excitement and energy as people gather to celebrate anticipated sporting events such as the Super Bowl and March Madness. Yet, behind the closed doors of these lively occasions, domestic violence can quietly escalate. Defined as a pattern of controlling or abusive behavior towards a partner in an intimate relationship, domestic violence affects an estimated 10 million Americans annually. Not limited to only physical harm, domestic violence includes a wide range of behaviors including verbal harassment, financial coercion, and emotional manipulation. 

Domestic violence can occur anytime and anywhere, but it often follows recognizable patterns that, when determined, can prevent future incidents. According to RAINN, 13 percent of all college students — particularly women and students with nonconforming gender identities — experience a form of sexual assault. 

Over 50 percent of such reports occur during the “Red Zone,” a period between August and November in which first-years are particularly vulnerable. This trend could potentially be explained by the large amount of partying and alcohol consumption during the first weeks of school, which is only compounded by new students’ lack of experience in navigating collegiate environments. Here on campus, the Red Zone is the primary reason why initiatives like Becoming Barnard — Barnard’s primary sexual violence education and prevention program — emphasize advocacy and educational programming during orientation. 

A broader factor that has gained increasing attention is the potential link between domestic violence and sports. Specifically, there is speculation that the elevated emotions and high stakes of sport events viewing can act as a catalyst to domestic abuse, inciting frustration and anger that erupts into violence. 

One particular instance both brought this issue to national attention and questioned the presumed causal relationship. During the 2023 Superbowl, the streaming service Tubi aired a 15-second commercial that simulated the viewer’s TV exiting the game and navigating to Tubi App. While this stunt was created to be a humorous promotion, the commercial sparked a conversation more serious than its intended purpose. 

The advertisement tricked many viewers into thinking that a member of their household was, whether purposefully or accidentally, changing the channel mid-game, sparking arguments and elevating already high tensions. In response, hundreds took to social media, posting their family’s reactions to the commercial, which often depicted immediate aggression and shouting. 

While many condemned the advertisement afterwards, claiming that it caused a spike in domestic violence that night, these claims remain primarily speculative. Specifically, the evidence that was cited was nearly entirely incidental, highlighting a larger obstacle in this topic and within domestic violence research more broadly. 

In a 2022 literature review examining data from 12 studies, researchers concluded that, while there is a correlation between sporting events and domestic violence, there is not enough consistent evidence to prove direct causation. Specifically, because such studies are retrospective in nature, they can not control for confounding factors. As a result, there were too many interfering external variables — such as alcohol consumption and coincidences with holidays — to isolate sporting events as the primary cause. 

Researchers proposed, instead, that sporting events may act as situational triggers that intensify preexisting dynamics and patterns of behavior, rather than directly creating them.

Across college campuses, such sporting cultures are especially prevalent, being heightened by partying and sports-betting. Recognizing these risks, Being Barnard emphasizes “that if a student has experienced sexual violence, it is never their fault and support is available.” Located in the Mental Well-Being Suite (106A LeFrak Center), they offer resources to students such as one-on-one confidential advising and numerous educational workshops. Above all, their team stresses the importance of bystander intervention, which is the leading prevention strategy which students can learn through their workshops.

More broadly, for students who are or who know somebody directly in need, there are both on-campus and off-campus hotlines available. 

For emergencies, students are advised to call:

Community Safety (on campus): 212-854-6666 

NYPD (off campus): 911

Additional support is also available through:

Columbia Health Sexual Violence Response (24/7): 212-854-4357

National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 800-799-7233

Regardless of the exact nature of the relationship between sports and domestic violence, being able to recognize the factors and environments that promote abuse is crucial to preventing it. Such awareness is especially important in isolated and close-knit communities, including liberal arts colleges, where small actions and changes in behavior can have widespread effects. Even through recognizing subtle signs such as bruises, social isolation, or a friend’s partner’s controlling behavior, life-changing conversations can be started.